Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas has to be one of the most unique national parks in the United States.
When you think of national parks, you probably think of striking mountains, or incredible lakes, perhaps stunning red rocks, or some other feature that makes it stand out among the surrounding nature.
While Hot Springs National Park has some mountains, as well as lakes, the thing that really stands out about Hot Springs National Park is that it’s interwoven in the boundary of the Town of Hot Springs in Arkansas!
While you have the forests, hills, lakes, and of course, springs, you also have bathhouses, gangster bars, hot spring root beer, and a brewery in the park!
This park isn’t your typical, run of the mill one. But is Hot Spring National Park worth visiting?
Yes! Especially if you’re a National Park lover. It’s beautiful in it’s own right, and definitely has some things to do I can guarantee you won’t get at any other National Park.
However, with that being said, you don’t need as long at this park as you would as most of the others. Hot Springs National Park and the surrounding town are honestly the perfect weekend destination, 2 days is all you need to see the highlights and explore this park.
Pulling from my own experience here, I’ve created a 2 day itinerary for Hot Springs National Park of things to do that will explore both the park and the surrounding town in an adventure filled weekend!
Feel free to switch up the days if one sounds better to start your weekend off with!
Let’s get exploring!
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THe Unique history of Hot springs national park
Over a century ago in 1921, Hot Springs National Park was established as the 18th National Park, but that wasn’t the beginning of it’s unique history, nor the end.
The land was explored in the early 1800s as part of the Louisiana Purchase when the hot springs were discovered. This area quickly became federally protected as they realized the potential health benefits of the springs!
In the early 1900s, the springs were covered up to protect their resources, and the construction of Bathhouse Row began! These bathhouses were essentially the spas of their time. While most of them aren’t in service now for their original use, they’re still standing and you can tour them!
But here’s where things get even more interesting, and a bit more spicy! Believe it or not, the park used to be very popular with the mobsters, most notably, Al Capone! It was almost like a Vegas before Vegas existed, with plenty of casinos and gambling.
The secluded nature of the park made it a decent hide out for these mobsters too, especially since the authorities were decently corrupt at the time. The gangster activity here ended in the 1960s, but we’ll go over it a bit more later!
Let’s dig into what you should do at your 2 days at the 2nd smallest National Park.
Day 1 at hot springs national park
Day 1 will be more nature focused, with hikes, bikes, and walks!
Explore One of the Many Hikes
Hot Springs is nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, which makes for some beautiful hikes and scenery! Hiking is one of the best things to do in this National Park.
There are two main sections of the park to chose a hike from. These are Hot Springs and North Mountain, and West Mountain. Hot Springs and North Mountain are the more popular of the two, but there are plenty of trail options at both, like the following.
Goat Rock Trail is my favorite at the park, and is a trail at the Hot Springs and North Mountain section. This trail is a moderate 2.3 miles total out and back trail with mountain overlooks, lush forest, and well maintained trails. It has 433 feet of elevation gain, and it’s dog friendly!
Hot Springs Mountain Trail is in the Hot Springs and North Mountain Section as well. This trail is an easy 3.1 mile loop with beautiful overlooks of the town, a creek, boulders, and forest. It has 636 feet of elevation gain, and is too dog friendly!
West Mountain Trail is in the West Mountain section of the park, a bit further away from everything than the others. This trail is a moderate 2.3 mile loop with a historic shelter, overlooks, and plenty of greenery! It has 387 feet of elevation gain and is dog friendly.
Gulpha Gorge Trail is also in the Hot Springs and North Mountain Section. This trail is a moderate 1.4 mile out and back trail with large boulders, a creek, and forests! It has 383 feet of elevation gain and is dog friendly.
Oertel Trail is in the Hot Springs and North Mountain Section. This trail is a moderate 3.3 mile out and back trail with a creek, well maintained trails, and woods! It has 498 feet of elevation gain, and is dog friendly.
Sunset Trail is a bit different because it’s so long it goes into both mountain sections. It’s the longest trail in the park being 10 miles one way, and covers three sections – West Mountain which is 2.8 miles, Sugarloaf Mountain which is 2.6 miles, and Stonebridge Road which is 3.8 miles. This trail is hard, has nearly 2,400 feet of elevation gain, and is dog friendly! There’s plenty of forests, beautiful views, and a creek!
Before your hike, you can fill up your water bottle with water from the springs! There are two main stations for this where you can get cold water, one on Whittington Avenue and one on Fountain Street.
There’s 26 miles of trails in the National Park, so if none of these float your boat, there are still plenty of other options.
Hot Springs Mountain Tower
After your hike, enjoy the views without having to work for them at the Hot Springs Mountain Tower.
At the top of this tower, you’ll see panoramic views of the town of Hot Springs, the Ouachita mountains, the amusement park, and beyond!
The mountain tower is over 200 feet tall (216 feet, to be exact), and has 2 observation platforms.
The bottom of the two is an indoors observation area with glass all around, as well as panels detailing the history of the park and area.
The upper platform is my favorite of the two. This open air platform has even better views of the park and surrounding area, and being out in the fresh air taking it all in elevates the experience! You can really see for miles and miles.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to walk to these platforms. An elevator will take you to the top.
General admission is $10 per person. For adults over 55, it’s $8. For children 5-11, it’s $5.50. For children under 4, it’s free. For military/ police/ firemen/ first responders, there is a discounted rate of $7 per person. Parking is free! Sadly, pets are not allowed.
The times the tower is open varies slightly based on what type of year you go. Regardless of the season, the tower opens at 9 AM, and closes 30 minutes prior to the giftshop closing.
From November to January, the shop closes at 5 PM. In February, it closes at 6 PM. From March to May 21st, it closes at 7 PM. From May 22nd to September 6th, it closes at 8 PM. From September 7th to October 31st, it closes at 6:30 PM.
You likely won’t need more than an hour or two here, and it’s a nice break from walking around! We’ve got plenty more of that coming up.
Explore Springs
I’ve got to admit – for a place that literally has “hot springs” in it’s title, I was a bit surprised by how little there are.
Of course, there are some, but most of the springs we passed were capped to preserve the health of the water, and to prevent them from being contaminated.
Okay, I guess that’s a fair enough reason… I just wish I could see them in their full majesty!
Don’t worry though, while you may not be able to see as many as you expected, you can still get your share of hot springs. You can even touch the water!
Display Springs, located behind Maurice Bathhouse, flows from a hillside into a mossy stone lined pool where you can see the water gather.
Hot Water Cascade is the largest visible spring in the park, and the prettiest in my opinion. Located on Arlington Lawn, this spring too flows from a hillside, but this time flows into 2 mossy stone lined pools. The greenery it’s surrounded by makes it even more beautiful.
The Fordyce Fountains are pretty different than the other two mentioned above, but still cool to see. Located between Fordyce Bathhouse and Maurice Bathhouse, the fountains spurt up the water into the air.
Not only can you see the hot springs at these locations, but there’s a few places where you can even drink the hot springs water for free! There are 7 thermal spring fountains, and 2 cold spring fountains.
Go for a bike ride
Whether hiking isn’t your thing, or you’re not quite yet tired after your hike, you can go biking around Hot Springs! While you can’t bike on Bathhouse Row or at the Grand Promenade, you can bike on the paved roads in the park, as well as a few other places.
The Hot Springs Creek Greenway is another paved path, and is a 6.3 mile out and back trail with slightly over 200 feet of elevation gain.
If you’re wanting actual trails over paved paths, you can check out some of the 32 miles of trails in the Northwoods Trails system, or do the 33 mile Womble Trail, the 108 mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail, or the 45 mile Lake Ouachita trail.
Garvan Woodland Gardens
End your day with a sunset stroll through Garvan Woodland Gardens, one of the prettiest things to do near Hot Springs!
Only about 15 minutes from the town of Hot Springs, Garvan Woodland Gardens is a beautiful botanical garden full of elaborate structures and beautiful trails! It’s also the botanical garden of The University of Arkansas.
Strolling around this garden was one of my favorite things I did on my trip here. You’re able to enter some of the structures and explore the inside of them!
There’s multiple different mini gardens making up botanical garden. There’s also many cool bridges, hundreds of different plant species, water features, and overlooks!
Some of the best structures to check out are Anthony Chapel, Perry Wildflower Overlook, the Evans Tree House, Children’s Adventure Garden Waterfall, and Garden of the Pine Wind. And these are just a few of the places you can check out at this garden!
Anthony Chapel is a glass and wood chapel located in the woods, and it’s beautiful! You can see directly in the church, so obviously they can see right out, and people get married here!
Perry Wildflower Overlook is one of the prettiest places in the park! It has stunning views of Lake Hamilton, rolling hills, lush trees, and of course, wildflowers!
The Evans Tree House may be located in the Children’s Adventure Garden, but you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy it! The massive wooden tree house has multiple floors to explore, is an uniquely strange shape, has interesting designs in the wood, and is fun to climb around in!
Children’s Adventure Garden Waterfall is one you can go behind in a cave! It’s not too large, but it is fun to venture around briefly.
Garden of the Pine Wind is one of the many smaller gardens located in Garvan Gardens, and is a Japanese garden featuring a coy pond, multiple bridges, and plenty of tree types.
If you explore far enough into the gardens, you’ll come across Lake Hamilton and beautiful trails that outline it. You can find them on the garden’s map.
To enter Garvan Woodland Gardens for non-members, it’s $20 per person over 13, $10 for children 4-12, and free for children 0-3. Prices may be a bit more expensive if you pay at the gardens in person.
Good news, you can bring your pups here for $5 a dog! More good news, parking here is free.
This park is open from 4PM to 9PM.
Day 2 at Hot springs national park
Day 2 at Hot Springs will be spent exploring the town and areas surrounding the National Park! We’ll also venture into the park a bit, but on the historic building side, not the nature side. Get ready for a day of learning, drinking, and walking!
Bathhouse Row
Bathhouse Row is one of the main attractions and things to do in Hot Springs National Park! There are 8 bathhouses, each constructed in the early 1920s or before.
Superior Bathhouse is the smallest one on the row. It may be small, but mighty! The only brewery in a National Park is located in Superior Bathhouse, and their drinks are made from spring water from the park!
Fordyce Bathhouse is home to Hot Spring’s National Park visitor center, and is the largest one on the row! It’s a museum you can tour with refurbished rooms to be historically accurate! It has three floors, two courtyards, and even a basement.
Buckstaff Bathhouse is actually fully operational, and has been since it opened over 100 years ago. Here, you can experience a thermal bath as part of a hydrotherapy treatment. You can also get a facial, get your nails done, or get a massage!
Quapaw Bathhouse is also available to soak in a thermal bath! There’s 4 thermal pools, private baths, and spa services.
Ozark Bathhouse is no longer an active bathhouse, but instead, is home to Hot Springs National Park Cultural Center. This is full of artwork to admire!
Lamar Bathhouse is home to the National Park’s giftshop, the Bathhouse Row Emporium! Make sure to stop by to grab a souvenir.
Maurice Bathhouse used to have a roof garden, a gym, a pool, and more, but now, it’s vacant.
Hale Bathhouse is the oldest bathhouse on the row! It’s now a luxury hotel with 9 suites, and the restaurant Eden is located here.
Even if you don’t go into of these bathhouses, they’re plenty beautiful just to observe from the outside! But, I’d recommend at least checking out the visitor center at Fordyce Bathhouse, and grabbing a drink at Superior Bathhouse.
The Ohio Club
You know how I mentioned Hot Springs National Park has a history of being popular with gangsters? Well, Al Capone was a big fan of The Ohio Club. There’s even a statue of him outside of it.
The Ohio Club is Arkansas’s oldest operating bar, having been in service since 1905. During the time Al Capone used to frequent it, it was a illegal casino and a speakeasy, with a false wall and all.
Now, it’s a bar and a restaurant. Enjoy a beer and a burger while thinking about what could have gone on where you’re sitting.
You can listen to live music here every Thursday through Sunday!
Gangster Museum of America
While we’re talking about the gangster history of Hot Springs National Park, The Gangster Museum of America is also a must visit if you’re into this history.
Like I briefly touched on earlier, in the 1920s to the 1940s, gambling, organized crime, and bootlegging were thriving in Hot Springs.
There are six galleries in the museum you’ll walk through with a tour guide, each room highlighting a different aspect of life here during this time, including one dedicated to Al Capone.
In this museum, you can expect to see the casino equipment of the era, a gangster’s telephone switchboard, pictures of how it looked, hear about the history, and more!
The Gangster Museum is open Sundays through Thursdays from 10 AM to 6 PM, and from 10 AM to 7 PM on Friday and Saturday. General admission is $15, is $16 for seniors, $6 for children aged 8 to 12, and free for children younger than that.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery
Fun fact – Hot Springs National Park is the only national park to have a brewery on site. Superior Bathhouse Brewery is a must visit in Hot Springs National Park.
What’s even cooler than this being the only brewery in a national park, is that they brew their beer with thermal spring water! It’s actually the only beer in the world to be made with it.
They have 18 beers on tap to choose from, as well as plenty of classic bar food options. You can even buy growlers of this beer to go!
No worries if you don’t like beer though – they also have root beer made form thermal spring water! And let me tell you, it is delicious.
Not only are the food and drinks great, but so are the vibes. Superior Bathhouse is dog friendly, has an awesome patio, and was once a fully operational bathhouse!
From 1913 to 1983 it served as a bathhouse for the residents and visitor of Hot Springs, before being abandoned for 3 decades. Then, in 2013, it was purchased and became the lively place it is today.
Grand Promenade
The Grand Promenade of Hot Spring’s National Park is a beautiful stroll behind Bathhouse Row.
This brick trail is about half a mile one way, has about 700 feet of elevation gain, and is dog friendly!
It’s lined with benches, trees, and has beautiful, close up views of the town and park.
There are four entry points to the promenade, the prettiest being Steven’s Balustrade. This fountain and stairs almost look out of place with the majesty of them.
Explore the Shops
Hot Springs has plenty of shops along the main road to choose from! From odd souvenir shops, to ice cream parlors, to clothing stores, you can find pretty much anything you need here.
These few categories are just the tip of the iceberg, check out this guide to the stores in Hot Springs.
Do a Ghost Tour
End your time at Hot Springs National Park on a spooky note with a guided ghost tour!
There are many places said to be haunted in Hot Springs, such as the Arlington Hotel where Capone used to stay, The Ohio Club that I mentioned earlier, The Malco Theatre where four people have died, and the Army-Navy Hospital which treated solider from World War 2, just to name a few.
For an hour, walk with your guide around downtown, and learn about the spooky, dark history behind some of the town’s buildings!
You can purchase tickets for this tour at 430 Central Avenue. Tours are every night at 8 PM, and tickets are cash only. It’s $20 per adult, and $15 for children under 10.
bonus day at hot springs national park options
Maybe you’re in town for a long weekend and have some extra time, or maybe you want to trade out some of these activities. You’re in luck! There are other things to do in Hot Springs.
If you’re in Hot Springs for a hot summer day, considered visiting Magic Springs Theme and Water Park.
Maybe you want an indoor, more quant activity, if you’re visiting from March to October. Visit Tiny Town to see a model train go through tiny iconic locations in the United States, and through 22 states.
Perhaps you’re craving a relaxing day on the water. A boat tour on Lake Hamilton is a perfect way to sit back and relax while enjoying the beautiful scenery and the lake.
when is the best time of the year to visit hot springs national park?
It depends on what your goals for the trip are. Summers in the south can get HOT and humid, so just be prepared if you’re planning a trip then.
But, during the summer, everything is also extremely green and lush, so maybe the heat is worth braving if you want to see this.
In spring, wildflowers and cherry blossoms are in bloom, with milder weather.
On the flip side, in the fall, you get the beautiful orange and red leaves with a crisp chill in the air.
I’d recommend visiting in spring or fall for the best weather and foliage, but those are also my favorite seasons, so I’m a bit biased. After visiting in summer, though, if you go during this season, be prepared for heat!
where to stay near hot springs national park
There are plenty of options of places to stay in and around Hot Springs National Park.
Gulpha Gorge Campground is the park’s official campground, and you can go either tent camping or RV camping here. You’ll need to make a reservation in advance, and it costs $34 per night.
You can also stay at a historic bathhouse at Hotel Hale. This luxury hotel only has 9 suites, so act fast! Just be aware the rooms can get pretty pricey.
The Arlington Hotel used to be popular with gangsters, and now is hosting tourists. Quite contrary to Hotel Hale, there are nearly 500 rooms here, and there is a spa. You can also book the specific rooms that big names used to stay at, such as Al Capone, Babe Ruth, and Ronald Reagan. Rooms here aren’t nearly as pricey as at Hotel Hale.
While these three are popular, there are plenty of other places to stay near the National Park.
how to get to hot springs national park?
The closest airport to Hot Springs is Memorial Field Airport, but its commercial flights are limited. If you’re flying in, you’ll want to look at flights to Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.
This airport is located in Little Rock, about an hour from Hot Springs.
To get from the airport to Hot Springs, there’s a few options.
You can rent a car, there are 8 car rental agencies at the airport.
You can also take an Uber or another ride share.
You can arrange a private transfer for a bit nicer option.
parks and fees to get into hot springs national park
There’s no entry fee to enter Hot Springs National Park!
what to pack for a trip to hot springs national park
Obviously, the type of clothes you pack may vary from season to season, so plan weather appropriate attire accordingly. However, there are some things you should consider bringing regardless of the season.
Hiking boots are a must bring if you’re planning on hitting the trails!
Sunglasses, bug spray, and sunscreen are always a good idea, got to protect yourself from the elements!
If you’re wanting a spa treatment, bring a bathing suit!
Bring hiking clothes! Also, although I wouldn’t recommend this for most National Parks, bring a cute outfit or two, in case you want to check out the town!
A water bottle is a non-negotiable for a hiking trip. Plus, you need to fill it up with thermal water!
Anything Else?
Now you’re ready to have the best adventure at Hot Springs National Park and the town!
Fun fact – Hot Springs National Park is the second smallest National Park, so if you’re not quite sold that you only need 2 days, maybe this will help.
Pack your hiking boots and go prepare to see some hot springs and learn about some odd history!
Happy Hiking!
